﻿1^0 NARRATIVE OF A ROUTE 



to the Rajah. When arrived within fix miles of Pa- 

 locri/hah, 2l range of hills feemed to clofe upon us, 

 and we came to the top of a very confiderable accli- 

 vity. I now found that we had been deceived in the 

 diflance; for inftead of five cofs, as they had told us, 

 it proved to be fixteen miles. The fun began to be 

 intenfely hot, and the thirft of my people became al- 

 moft infupportable. At the top of the pafs were 

 feveral batteries for the defence of this approach to 

 Paloon/Jiah ; and we perceived a circular cavity, which 

 fortunately proved to hca-Bowlie, that had been funk, 

 in this elevated region, for fupplying the pofl with 

 water. Many of the party, with a view to flake their 

 thirft, defcened into it. The defcent was by a fet of 

 circular fteps, of which they counted one hundred : 

 Thefe being rudely formed, and about two feet each 

 in depth, rendered the approach to the water fo dif- 

 ficult and laborious, that feveral of the men were in- 

 duced to return before they had gone half way ; and 

 thofe who had reached the bottom, found them Pelves 

 but little benefitted by it, aftei- the fatigue of re-afcend- 

 ing. I computed the depth of the well to be at leaft 

 180 feet. 



From this place we began to defcend by a road, in 

 fome parts eafy, and deep in others ; though in the 

 aggregate the defcent was very confiderable. Our 

 march having hitherto been in a thick foreft, the prof- 

 peft of the town and fort of PaioorJIiah, fituated in a 

 rich and luxuriant valley, now became very pleafing. 

 We pafied a barrier which defends the approach to the 

 town, and confifts of a ftrong rampart, faced with 

 maibnry, which is conne6led with the hills on the eaft 

 fide of'it. A narrow and rocky defile, winding round 

 the well fide of the rampart, is the only entrance to 

 the valley. 



We advanced to a very fine mango grove, and 

 halted under the fiiade of the trees until the Rajah 

 Ihould be made acquainted with our arrival; and 



a place 



